The Welsh Rugby Union has reported a record financial performance for the year ending 30 June 2012, with turnover of £63 million (€79 million).
The success off as well as on the pitch has enabled an investment in the elite rugby programme of £4.1 million (€5.1 million); total investment into community rugby of £5.9 million (€7.4 million) representing a 23% increase on last year; and £20.1million (€25.1 million) towards affiliated organisations, up 35% since 2007.
Different expenditure can be assigned to different categories by each of the different Rugby Unions but on top line figures this suggests that Wales are putting more towards the elite game but around 20% less than the IRFU towards domestic and community rugby.  Welsh turnover for the year is slightly higher than in the Irish report which also covered the expense of last year’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.
The Annual Report showed that the turnover of the WRU has risen by 44% in the five years from 2007.
Also, as a result of the financial performance and the re-financing during the year, the net repayable bank debt of the WRU was also reduced to its lowest level since the Millennium Stadium was built in 1999 dipping below £19m (€24 million) for the first time.
It does warn of challenges ahead as trading conditions in the wider economy remain difficult.
“The results we announce today are clear evidence of how our robust reforms and adherence to clear business strategies across the past five years are paying off with success for Welsh rugby both on and off the field, said Chief Executive Roger Lewis.
“We have recruited and developed great people, reformed our systems and structures and delivered a raft of new initiatives aimed at sustaining and developing rugby as the national sport of Wales.
“To record a 44% growth in turnover across the past five years is a remarkable achievement the WRU can rightly be proud of, but we will not ease up on our commitment to develop within the aims we have defined in our five year rolling strategic plan. The best is yet to come. Our financial performance is the engine to drive our rugby forwards.”
During the year there was an extension of the WRU agreement with kit manufacturer Under Armour, a new deal for all club rugby balls with Gilbert, a new pouring rights deal with Heineken and Brains and renewal agreements with Dove Men Care, SEAT and the Principality Building Society.
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